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Obituaries December 9, 2010

Earle N. Barber Jr., lawyer and board member
Earle Nelson Barber Jr., 83, a lawyer who had served on the boards of many area nonprofit organizations, died Nov. 28 at his home in Cathedral Village, Andorra.

Mr. Barber was a former partner in the Chestnut Hill firm of Barber, Sharpe and Rosenberger and had practiced law for more than 50 years.

For many years he had held leadership positions in numerous local organizations. He was a past president of the Springfield Township School Board, the Businessmen’s Association of Germantown and the Germantown Community Council.

He was president of the Ivy Hill Cemetery Company and had served on the board of Germantown Hospital for more than 30 years.

He also had served on the boards of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, the YMCA of Germantown, the First United Methodist Church of Germantown, the Wyck Association and the Concord School House, and had been chairman of the committee that organized the Northwest Center for Older Adults (now the Center in the Park).

He was a trustee emeritus of the Woodmere Art Museum – his favorite institution – where he had exhibited some of his sculptures. As executor of the Dwight V. Dowley Estate, he was involved in the awarding of substantial funds to the museum and the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as gifts to many local art and music groups.

Born and raised in Germantown, Mr. Barber was a graduate of Germantown High School, Cornell University and Temple University Law School. He had also lived in Wyndmoor and Whitpain Township.

He is survived by his wife, the former Elizabeth Hewitt; a daughter, Jan H. B. Miller; sons Locke W., Christopher K. and Paul T., and 10 grandchildren.

A memorial service was held Dec. 2 at Chestnut Hill Village. Memorial donations may be sent to the Woodmere Art Museum, 9201 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19118, or the Germantown Historical Society, 5503 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144. – WF

Carlos Dabezies, economist

Carlos Dabezies, 95, formerly of Chestnut Hill, a retired staff economist for the United Nations, died of complications of heart disease Nov. 30 at his home in Rydal Park, Jenkintown, where he had been living for the past five years.

A native of Buenos Aires, Mr. Dabezies joined the United Nations in 1948 shortly after the organization was founded. He traveled to Lebanon, Laos and throughout Latin America during his UN career, and his work was profiled in an article in the Chestnut Hill Local several years ago.

After retiring in 1965, he became a U.S. citizen and served for another decade as treasurer of his church in New York City.

He and his late wife, the former Priscilla Parnell, moved to Chestnut Hill in 1989 to be near their daughter Marta Dabezies and her family who live in Mt. Airy. The Dabezies became active members of the Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Dabezies was a graduate of Buenos Aires University and received a master’s degree in public administration from what is now the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

He was a lifelong music lover with an extensive collection of recordings, a student of languages, an amateur mathematician and a connoisseur of good wine and food.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by a son, Carlos, and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at a later date.